Just because the only free space you’ve got on your property is in the shade doesn’t mean you’ve got to give up your dreams of having a healthy garden. With this post, allow me to walk you through a few tips that’ll help you grow a great garden, even in the shade.

Different Types of Shade

When it comes to deciding what plan of action is best for you regarding dealing with the shade around your garden area, you’ll want to think about what type of shape you’ve got on your property.

The term ‘dappled shade’ refers to a type of shade that is cast on your garden for most, if not all, of the day. Trimming any low-hanging branches can help you battle this type of shade.

The second type of shade is known as ‘partial shade,’ and it is just that; shade that occurs at various times during the day as the sun tracks across the sky and hides behind various objects around your garden. Partial shade can be a bit more of a pain to deal with if it’s caused by something like buildings.

In the ‘partial shade’ scenario, you will likely still be able to grow most crops of your choosing but you’ll probably want to adjust your expectations regarding the yield. Follow this link to learn about the top 40 edible plants that will grow in partial shade.

Using Reflective Mulch

Making use of reflective mulch can be a great way to combat shade in your garden. Using reflective much, such as red plastic mulch often found in tomato gardens, can greatly help reflect sunlight up onto the leaves of your plants and also increase the air temperature surrounding your crop.

You can also coat any wall facing your garden in reflective paint and find yourself experiencing similarly great results.

It’s very likely that your garden shade situation has a bit of uniqueness, most likely due to the trees and structures that present the issue. As such, you’ll probably require a bit of trial and error when it comes to choosing the solution that works right for you. But give the suggestions I’ve mentioned here a shot and see how they go – they’re a great place to start!

Jesse Hermanis a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. He writes and produces video at PowerfulPrimates.com. Jesse began his alternative health journey after chronic back pain and has not looked back since. Follow him on Youtube and Facebook (also more Facebook), broadcasting out of Brazil, Florida, and in a dark distant cave (with internet).